Statically Indeterminate Beam Members

Key Concepts: A beam member with more supports provided than needed to maintain

equilibrium of the member is said to be statically indeterminate. In such a case

neither the support forces and moments nor the internal forces and moments can be

determined from the equilibrium equations. More information is required to analyze

statically indeterminate problems. This same concept also applies to axial and torsion

members.

In a Nut Shell: In statically indeterminate structures the equilibrium equations must be

Supplemented with information related to deformation of the structure. Typically there are

three ingredients in statically indeterminate problems:

1.	Equilibrium
2.	Geometry
3.	Load-Deflection

The same three ingredients are in any problem in deformable bodies – either statically

determinate or indeterminate. But in the indeterminate case, they must usually be considered

simultaneously.

Click here for a discussion of strategy for statically indeterminate problems.

Click here for examples of indeterminate bending applications.

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